Former foes from Hoover, Prattville turn into teammates for Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic

MIKE KITTRELL/Staff PhotographerLinebacker John Propst of Hoover practices on Thursday in Mobile for Saturday's Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. Maudrecas Humphrey is reminded of what's expected of him every time he sees Alabama play at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Up on the Jumbotron, tucked within the video footage of some of the greatest plays in Crimson Tide history, is his father, Bobby Humphrey, racing through the Penn State defense for a 73-yard run during a 220-yard rushing effort in 1987.

It is a run that has become synonymous with the elder Humphrey, who until this year held Alabama's school record for single-season rushing yardage.

Now, although it came on a smaller stage, Humphrey's son has a signature play of sorts as well -- a 41-yard touchdown catch to open the scoring in Hoover's 28-23 Class 6A state championship win over Prattville.

Or it will be if some of his teammates in Saturday's Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic can help it.

"DeMarcus Milliner keeps bringing it up," Humphrey laughed this week, as he and his Alabama All-Star teammates prepared for Saturday's 12:30 p.m. kickoff at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

"We didn't complete it in practice all week, so I was kind of nervous about it," Humphrey said of the play, a post pattern that got him behind the Lions' secondary. "But after the game got started, with the tempo of the game, I was like, 'This is about to be a touchdown.'"

Milliner's interest in the play is his way of giving a friendly ribbing to a few of his other teammates on the Alabama All-Star squad this week -- particularly his future Crimson Tide teammate, Prattville safety Nick Perry.

"I've been hearing a little bit about it, but it wasn't me (who got burned on the play) so I'm really not worried about it," said Perry, who along with Milliner is committed to the University of Alabama. "It happened a week ago. I'm kind of over it now."

This week, Perry and two other Prattville players, all-purpose athlete Corey Shelton and linebacker Qushaun Lee, are teammates with Humphrey and two other Hoover players -- receiver Josh Magee and linebacker John Propst. Only a week after squaring off for the state title, they'll stand together Saturday against the best players from Mississippi.

"I thought it was going to be kind of weird," Humphrey said, "but we've got a game to play."

Niblett said the mutual respect between his players at Hoover and the Lions, who had won three straight state titles before this season, has made it easy for them to come together as teammates.

"We've got a lot of respect for them and in turn I think they've got a lot of respect for us," said Niblett. "I think that's got a lot to do with how good these kids get along with each other, because they respect each other so much. Year in and year out, we end up playing each other for the state championship, so that says a lot for both programs."

Niblett, whose Alabama All-Star staff this week includes Prattville coach Jamey DuBose, said he's been impressed with the competitiveness of the Prattville players on his roster this week. "I knew they were great players, he said, "but they're great kids and they compete."

Propst, the nephew of former Hoover and Alma Bryant coach Rush Propst, said he's just glad the Bucs won the state title, as the Lions beat Hoover for the crown in 2006 and 2008. "I lost two of them to Prattville and I had to get that one before I left," he said. "It was great to hold them off in the end."

Both Propst and Humphrey said the biggest adjustment this week has not been getting used to new teammates but getting accustomed to a new level of speed on the field -- particularly in a secondary that includes a trio of Alabama commitments in Perry, Milliner and Blount safety Jarrick Williams.

"I've got to get used to how fast these guys run," said Humphrey. "I'm not tucking the ball fast enough and they're breaking it up every play. So I've got to get used to that real quick."

Besides, Humphrey has a name to live up to. He's drawn his share of recruiting attention -- although his father's alma mater has not been at the forefront -- with Arkansas, Mississippi State and Kentucky at the top of his list. And as much pressure as he might feel to live up to his father's reputation, he puts even more pressure on himself.

"I have to," he said, "or else I'll just be an average player and I want to be a great player."